Semarang, April 23, 2026 – The Public Administration Study Program at the Rembang Campus, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Diponegoro University, demonstrated its presence on the international stage by holding the 1st International Conference on Public Administration, Policy, Advocacy, Public Management, Strategic Communication, and Reform (ICOPAPER) 2026, as part of the International Student Excursions and Cultural Exchanges (ISE) 2026 series.
The main event of this international conference was held at the Diponegoro University Rembang Campus, and involved various partner universities from the Asian region, including Burapha University in Thailand, Pangasinan State University in the Philippines, and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia. This collaboration is a strategic step in strengthening global academic networks while encouraging the development of public administration science that is adaptive to global challenges.
With the theme “The Urgency of Local Governance: Building Resilient and Participatory Communities in Asia,” the conference brought together practitioners from across the globe to discuss strategic issues related to local governance, ranging from policy advocacy and strategic communication in the digital age, strengthening local government capacity, to harmonizing inclusive and sustainable social policies.
The series of activities began with an opening session featuring keynote addresses from international partners, namely Burapha University in Thailand, Pangasinan State University in the Philippines, and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia. In addition, remarks were delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Diponegoro University, who emphasized the institution’s commitment to strengthening global collaboration in public administration, as well as by representatives from the Rembang Regency Government and Muhammadiyah University of Sidoarjo.
The event then continued with the signing of a cooperation agreement, scientific sessions, interactive discussions, and the presentation of awards to participants. The various strategic topics presented by international and national speakers, who are experts in their fields, reflected multidisciplinary collaboration in addressing the challenges of contemporary public governance. In addition to the conference, this event is part of the ISE 2026 series, which includes international-class laboratories, curriculum benchmarking, and cultural exchanges. The entire series is designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience, integrating academic perspectives with field practice, and strengthening the global competency of students and lecturers in the field of public administration.
Through this international event, the Public Administration Study Program at the Rembang Campus, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Diponegoro University (Undip), is increasingly positioned as an institution active in global networks and committed to developing innovative, collaborative, and sustainable governance. Going forward, similar events are expected to continue to be developed as strategic platforms to expand international collaboration, improve academic quality, and prepare graduates with global competitiveness in facing the dynamics of the public sector.